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DMITRY Medvedev slammed NATO’s “anti-Russian policy” for driving Russia to scrap the Cold War-era moratorium on nuclear missiles.
In his latest online clash with Donald Trump, the ex-Russian president ominously warned the West to “expect further steps”.
Medvedev’s comments came shortly after Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the country no longer regarded itself bound by the moratorium on the deployment of short- and medium-range nuclear missiles.
The ex-president wrote on X on Monday: “The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement on the withdrawal of the moratorium on the deployment of medium- and short-range missiles is the result of NATO countries’ anti-Russian policy.
“This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with. Expect further steps.”
The deputy head of Russia’s powerful Security Council did not elaborate on the nature of the “further steps”.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed in December 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
But the US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, accusing Russia of breaking the rules.
Moscow has since said it will not deploy the missiles – with ranges of 311 to 3,418 miles – unless Washington does first.
But Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned last December that Moscow would have to respond to what he called the US and NATO’s “destabilising actions”.
The ministry said: “Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of U.S.-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared.”
It comes as Trump said on Friday that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned to “the appropriate regions”.
Trump and Medvedev have been locked in a war of words after the ex-Russian president accused Trump of “playing the ultimatum game” over the White House’s push to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump first gave Putin 50 days to end the war – but slashed the deadline to just 10 days from July 29 due to a lack of progress on Moscow’s part.
The US president also vowed to impose secondary tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire agreement is not reached by August 8.
Medvedev ominously warned Trump that Russia “isn’t Israel or even Iran”.
“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,” he wrote on a post on X.
Trump blasted Medvedev’s comments as “foolish and inflammatory” before ordering nuclear submarines to be deployed near Russian waters.
“Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The US has the largest nuclear-powered submarine fleet in the world, including its lead ship the USS Virginia – a 377-feet long sub, equipped with cruise missiles.
Trump v Medvedev: War of words
July 2025: Donald Trump announced a 50-day deadline for Russia to move toward ending the war in Ukraine or face “severe” tariffs.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, dismissed this as a “theatrical ultimatum” that Russia “didn’t care” about.
Late July 2025: President Trump reduced his deadline for Russia to secure a peace deal to just “10 or 12 days,” threatening sanctions and secondary tariffs on countries that do business with Russia.
In response, Medvedev wrote on X that Trump was “playing the ultimatum game” and warned that each new ultimatum was a step toward war, not between Russia and Ukraine, but with the United States.
July 30, 2025: In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump publicly targeted Medvedev, calling him a “failed former President of Russia” who was “entering very dangerous territory” with his remarks.
This statement came as Trump also announced a 25% tariff on India, criticizing its “dead economy” and continued defense and energy ties with Moscow.
July 31, 2025: Medvedev retaliated on social media by referencing the “Dead Hand,” a Cold War-era Soviet nuclear retaliation system, in a veiled threat to the US.
He also stated that Trump’s “jittery reaction” proved Russia was “completely in the right” and would continue on its own path.
August 1, 2025: In a further escalation, President Trump announced he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned near Russia in response to Medvedev’s “foolish and inflammatory statements.”
This move highlights the dangerous rhetorical turn the conflict has taken, now including nuclear threats from both sides.
August 4, 2025: Medvedev blamed NATO countries for Russia’s abandonment of a moratorium on short- and medium-range nuclear missiles.
He added the West should “expect further steps”.
